January 8, 1896.]
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1894 praying for increased representation in the Legislative Council, but there is some reason to believe that ultimately the petition will be found to have been not altogether fruitless. This petition, together with the agitation in connection with the Sanitary Board, must convince the Secre- tary of State that the public is inadequately represented in the administration of the affairs of the colony and some ameudment of the existing condition of things, either in the direction of an increase of the unofficial element in the Legislative Council or the establishment of a Municipal Council, may not unreasonably be looked for. In any re- arrangement that may be made it is desir- able that the Chinese community as well as the Europeans should be accorded the means of making their views and wishes known, for at present much unnecessary irritation and friction are caused by goy- ernmental ignorance of the conditions to be dealt with. An instance of this is afforded in the agitation now proceeding in the na tive community with reference to the light and pass regulations. After being in abey ance for a number of years these regul- tions have lately been revived, much to the annoyance of those affected by them and without any apparent necessity. Another matter calling for consideration is the re- peated violation of the waters of the colony by the Chinese Customs cruisers. When the stations of the native Customs surround- ing Hongkong were placed under the ad- ministration of the Foreign Customs estab- lishment it was believed that incidents of this kind would be altogether put an end to, and for a long time there was no legitimate ground of complaint, but during 1895 there have been several cases in which junks in British waters have been offensively inter
CHINA OVERLAND TRADE REPORT. increase and freight rates have been such as compromising spirit of hostility. In April to leave a margin of profit over and above His Excellency appointed an Acting Medical the cost of running. The Chinese Customs Officer of Health, a much needed appointment, returns for the first three quarters of the but made under terms which could only be year are also indicative of commercial ac- construed as a direct insult to the Sanitary tivity, and most of the public companies Board. The Medical Officer was to be a having their field in this part of the world member of the Board but at the same time are reported to have done well, increased entirely independent of it, so that the Board dividends being looked for in several in- could neither call on him for reports nor stances. Conditions in the earlier part of give him directions to carry out its policy. the year were, however, unfavourable to our Under these circumstances unofficial em local sugar industry, and although there has hers then in the colony felt they had no latterly been a return of comparative pro-alternative but to send in their resignations, sperity, which bids fair to continue, the re- a course in which they were entirely sup- | sult of the 1895 working is not likely to be ported by public opinion. Their places brilliant. Shareholders interested in gold have not yet been filled and the whole mining in the Malay Peninsula must also question of the constitution of the Board still be content to possess their souls in is now under the consideration of patience. During the year several small the Secretary of State. The despatches industries been established in Hongkong, have not yet been published, but there are but disappointment has been felt that indications that Mr. CHAMBERLAIN has the colony has not shared with Shanghai in disapproved of the action of the Government the establishment of cotton factories. For and that the final decision will be in favour this important industry, however, the of a reconstitution of the Board on a more conditions obtaining at the northern port popular basis. The conviction is steadily appear to have been deemed the more growing that what the colony really needs is favourable. While not ignoring this dis a Municipal Council with full control over appointment, the trade of the colony dur-purely municipal matters, including sanita- ing the year has on the whole been good tion, and that would be the best solution of the and shows a great improvement on that of present long continued crisis. Following the the few years previously. We seem now excitement caused by the resignation of the fairly to have turned the corner of com- unofficial members of the Sanitary Board mercial depression and after the series of came the famous inkstand incident. Mr. lean years that have been experienced may FRANCIS, whose services as Chairman of the look forward with some confidence to a Permanent Committed appointed to cope period of continued prosperity. Happily with the plague in 1894 had been invaluable, we have been spared, with the exception of was tendered in recognition thereof by the a few sporadic cases, any return of the Government a silver inkstand, while his col- plague, which played such havoc in the league on the committee, Mr. F. H. MAY, colony in 1894. The discase made its ap- was made a C.M.G. Everyone approved of pearance in some neighbouring places, how the honour conferred on Mr. MAY, but it ever, and it was necessary for a time to was felt that the distinction drawn between prohibit Chinese immigration from Swatow, him and Mr. FRANCIS was an insult to the||fered with. Macao, and Hainan. În noting the condi- latter. Mr. FRANCIS himself took the same tions of trade during the year mention view and declined the inkstand, the feeling should not be omitted of the reduction that of the public being entirely on his side, has taken place in the bank rate of interest, though the manner in which he announced which has enhanced the value of all sound his decision to the Government was not al- securities and facilitated commercial traus- together above criticism. It is the general actions, though it is not looked upon impression that the reason for the shabby altogether as a blessing by the class of small treatment accorded to him was that his investors, who now draw only four per cent. services had not been properly represented on their fixed deposits in the banks instead to the Secretary of State by the local Go- of five per cent. as formerly. The intro- verument, Another matter of interest that duction of the British dollar, which places has engaged public attention the irritat- our local currency on A more satising military contribution question. At factory basis, is another event of importance Singapore all persons holding honorary office, in the commercial chronicle of the year. with one or two exceptions, resigned, as Turning to the local politics of the colony, a protest against what was considered the period under review has been one of the unjust exaction made in that colony. some excitement. In March the Chinese The home Government thereupon took the attempted to resist the application of sanitary matter up and after some months' delay laws to common lodging houses by organis-arrived at the decision that the contribution ing a coolie strike, which lasted for twelve should in future be fixed percentage of days and caused some disorganisation of business during that period, though the inconvenience was minimised by the assist ance of the Garrison, a number of soldiers being employed in working cargo. The strike was not on a question of wages but in direct-resistance to the law and was there foré seditious in its nature. Too much praise cannot be accorded to H.E. the Governor for the firmness with which he met the movement and overcame it, notwith- standing that there was an inclination on the part of some of the leading members of the mercantile community to give way, a course that would have been disastrous to the future good government of the colony, which it would have placed at the mercy of unscrupulous agitators. The wisdom which characterised Sir WILLIAM ROBINSON's con- duct in that matter, however, was wholly lacking in his treatment of the Sanitary Board, a body to which he has shown an un-I
174 of the revenue. The same principle was applied to Hongkong, but whereas in the Straits the municipal revenue of the different settlements are exempt from the levy in Hongkong it is to be calculated on the total revenue, municipal and general. The result is that this colony will be mulcted much more heavily in proportion to its resources than the Straits, and still more heavily than Ceylon or Mauritius, where lower percentages have been decided upon, the municipal revenues in those colonies being elso exempt. The unofficial members of the Legislative Council have vigorously protested against the arrange- ment and there the matter for the present rests. Should the decision of the home Gov- ernment be unfavourable to the just claims of the colony it will be incumbent on the community to express its views in no un- certain manner. No formal reply has yet been received to the petition sent home in
During the year there have been several important changes in official circles. Sir NICHOLAS O'CONOR has been promoted from the Legation at Peking to that at St. Petersburg; his successor at Peking has not yet been appointed and the Legation is at pre- sent in charge of Mr. BEAUCLERK as Chargé d'Affaires. A change has also taken place in the Minister to Japan, the Hon. P. LE POER TRENCH having been succeeded by Sir E. SATOW. Admiral BULLER has succeeded Admiral FREMANTLE in command of the squadron and General BLACK, has succeeded General BARKER in command of the garrison. The Hon. J. H. STEWART LOCKHART has been appointed to the Colonial Secretary- ship, which was rendered vacant by the re- tirement through ill health of Sir G. T. M. O'BRIEN. Mr. Justice ACKROYD, Puishe Judge, after a long and honourable service, retired on a well earned pension, and Mr. A, G. WISE, the Registrar of the Supreme Court, was appointed to the vacant seat on the bench-a very popular appointment, Mr. KYSHE, a stranger to the colony, has
been appointed to the Registrarship. Colonel BARROW, who raised and organised the Hong- kong Regiment, has been promoted to a staff. appointment in India, and on his departure carried with him the good wishes of the com- munity, to which expression was given by the presentation of an address and testimonial. Mr. A. J. LEACH, Who had acted on various occasions and for long periods as Attorney-General and Puisne Judge, has been appointed to a Puisne Judgeship in the Strait his departure from, the colony causing much regret in legal circles and, amongst the members of Cricket Club (of which he was 'one of the most active members and best players S well as in the general community. The retirement of two other public servants
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